MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – Manchester Township Police Department is urgently seeking the public’s help in solving two separate hit-and-run incidents that occurred on Sunday, leaving two local residents injured. The events unfolded within hours of each other at different locations in the township.
The first incident took place near Silverwoods Independent Living on Northampton Boulevard at approximately 12:59 p.m. Daniel Beatty, a 71-year-old Manchester resident, was hit by a vehicle described as an older grey or silver Chevrolet pick-up truck. According to Beatty, he was crossing at the intersection of East Point Drive and Northampton Boulevard when the pick-up truck disregarded a stop sign and appeared to be speeding.
The truck fled the scene after striking Beatty, heading east towards State Highway 37.
“The collision with the pick-up truck caused Mr. Beatty to fall to the ground,” the police department stated. Beatty sustained injuries to his head and left hand, and was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment.
Later the same day, at around 7:52 p.m., a second pedestrian was struck at the intersection of State Highway 37 and Bone Hill Road. Mark Bryan, a 59-year-old from Manchester, was hit by a dark-colored, possibly blue, Hyundai SUV while crossing State Highway 37.
The unidentified SUV collided with Bryan on his right side and then fled the scene, heading west on State Highway 37. Bryan suffered injuries to his leg, shoulder, elbow, and foot, and was also taken to Community Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.
In both cases, preliminary investigations suggest that failure to yield to a pedestrian was a significant factor. Emergency Medical Technicians from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services and Paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital were present at both scenes to provide assistance.
The police are actively investigating both incidents and are requesting that anyone with information about the identity of the involved vehicles or operators contact the Manchester Township Police Department. Officer Brendan Brush of the Traffic Safety Unit is leading the investigations.